As someone with a diverse cinema taste including the many superhero films, I read with intrigue just how much the critics hated this movie. I was expecting it to be awful at every level. It wasnt!. In fact, I thought it was a very enjoyable contained fantasy tale that was effectively delivered. The acting was absolutely fine. The script was cogent. It never set out to challenge Shakespeare. The cinematography was visually entertaining. Again, it never imagined itself to challenge Avatar. The character development and plot were both sufficient and relevant, clearly inclining your perspective. The film has a target audience and I appreciate it won't appeal to everyone but I cannot help but believe the latter were not being entirely objective in reviewing it for what it was intended to do. I just don't understand why so many people dislike it! Try it for yourself and don't believe all of the reviews have been objective.
Reviews
31 Reviews
Guy Ritchie's the Covenant
(I) (2023)
Fabulous storyline, beautifully executed.
3 October 2023
I never saw any marketing for this movie prior to its release. I happened on it by chance and have rewatched it several times. It's simply a brilliant movie. As such, a straight 10 from me. Great storytelling, character driven, not situational. I appreciate it's an artistic take on real events but the depiction and direction draws you in to feel for the characters. Its gripping. Then the ensemble is complimented by fantastic casting, cinematography, score, direction and editing. I don't take the time to leave reviews despite watching a lot of cinema but this was special, almost a perfect movie. By today's standards, it is perfect.
Continuum
(I) (2012–2015)
Such a lot of potential.
10 April 2023
I'm really sorry to say that it started off as a really great concept sci-fi series but very soon became a mundane cop show occasionally referencing the initial episode to justify its existence. The storyline was a simplistic premise set out in the initial episode but it was drawn out by the development of the cop show element rendering it too slow at times. This was despite a good cast doing a great job of developing the characters. I persisted through season one but was disappointed that it ended up remaining mostly a cop show with little regard to the potential that the initial episode promised.
Jack Reacher
(2012)
Cinema versus TV Series
31 March 2023
I've read all the books books and watched both the cinema version(s) featuring Tom Cruise and the TV adaptation starring Alan Ritchson. They're all very worthy in their own right but this negative regard for the Tom Cruise adaptation is just nonsense. The movie was superb because he is such a great actor, as was the entire cast. It was beautifully shot, scripted, edited and executed. It was very faithful to the soul of the books (read more than just the killing floor). The TV series was entertaining and dedicated to the single book. It was enjoyable but given the financial constraints of Hollywood and the budget of a TV series, the outcome was inevitable. Alan may resemble the character more from a physical perspective but he's no Tom Cruise in the acting department and he would back me up with that. The TV series was at times a little hammy. That said I'm glad I watched it and look forward to watching the second adaptation. But, bear in mind, looks alone are not the necessary requisite for bringing a character to life. It's necessary for the actor to make you believe. Christ, I look like Ed Sheeran but you wouldn't want to hear me sing.
The Casual Vacancy
(2015)
Tragically beautiful.
23 December 2022
An excellent adaptation of an equally brilliant book. The screenplay was as faithful to the original story as it was practicable to be so. Either way, what plot deployments or omissions were more than compensated by the performance from the cast ensemble that was truly magnificent. They were excellent, and not just the big names..watch out for Hurst and Lawrie. I can't help think that the neg reviews are made up from either the potter community who never got over the half blood prince adaption, or the vestiges of the trans community who just negate anything Rowling has done because they are both misinformed and ignorant. Read the book, watch the series, make your own judgement. Don't be fooled by me or anyone else.
Don't Look Up
(2021)
Brilliant old school.
30 December 2021
I don't know if there is an Oscar category for casting but this is a winner. Great ensemble. Slapstick humour in a wonderful screenplay. Superbly performed by a stellar cast. It's almost uncomfortable in than it's tragically realistic to where we are in societal terms without the impending comet. A very well done tragicomedy.
The Harder They Fall
(2021)
Great cast. Shocking script. Very disappointing.
23 November 2021
It's trying to come over as unique but he lifted too many Tarantino-esque styles and executed them poorly. Some scenes had a studio sit-com feel. They were terrible. Out of place. Really distracting. The screenplay was at times slow and hammy. The music was incongruous. It was a mess made watchable by a great cast.
Zone 414
(2021)
A very good slow burn sci-fi movie.
10 October 2021
A simple but good story that has been very well adapted. Acting was really very good. Cinematography and soundtrack were excellent. It's not blade runner but it never tried to be. It's set in a dystopian premise and like any genre-sci-fi flick after blade runner it gets compared. Don't compare it. It's a very good story on its own a very well presented.
Black Widow
(2021)
Brilliant.
13 July 2021
Personal bias will always bring out strong opinions and I would defend to the death the rights of the naysayers to leave their subjectivity low ratings. That said, for me, I thought the movie was wonderfully poignant and it filled just the right amount of backstory to make it tie in to the franchise without loss of continuity. I also loved the casting, the screenplay and the use of humour to humanise the 'superhero' aspect of the tie in movies. Brilliant.
The Nevers
(2021–2023)
Very entertaining.
7 June 2021
What a great concept! The very idea is beautifully original. It has a great storyline, screenplay. Wonderfully acted by a great ensemble. It was thoughtful in regards to period continuity. This was a great sci-fi mini-series. I hope there'll be another series. Really well done.
Debris
(2021)
Very good sci-fi mini series.
4 June 2021
First of all well done Wyman on creating the concept. A simple enough sci-fi premise. Possible and believable. Small cast ensemble. Very well produced. Like the X-Files, you needed to care about the main characters to invest in the context of the series. If you don't care about them then you won't care what happens to them so the storyline is wasted. The two mains (Tucker and Steele) did a great portrayal of the characters. Very good performances. Believable. There was sufficient back story of them that I cared about them and so got hooked. I'm glad I did. It was a great little show. They were a great combination. I'm sorry it was discontinued.
Zack Snyder's Justice League
(2021)
Absolutely wonderful.
27 May 2021
What a difference watching the Snyder cut from the Wheedon cinema release. It's like a different story and so much more thoughtfully aligned to to the DC backstory (and more faithful). His slow burn cinematography and brilliant soundtrack (remember Watchmen, 300?) make this another treat of a film fest. It's 4 hours, but I've watched it a couple of times and I can't think of a scene that could be cut out. Thank you Mr Snyder.
The Mandalorian
(2019– )
Brilliant.
21 May 2021
I appreciate modern cinematography can make the older Star Wars franchise seem a little hammy. But this series is much more than modern cinematography. It's story telling and production values are way above the level of continuity necessary for a spin off. As such, it's almost original in its own premise. It's quite the best mini series I have seen during lockdown and I've been through a lot. Apart from Chernobyl, this is the best thing I've seen in 2 years. Can't recommend it enough.
John Carter
(2012)
Great movie. A future classic.
27 February 2021
First of all the movie itself is great. Beautifully made. Storyline, Casting, action CGI and everything. It's action packed fantasy and enjoyable. If you understand it's origin you'll enjoy it. I read that it was received poorly but that's a marketing thing and for that you can thank Disney. I first saw it on its release in the cinema and recently rewatched it. It ages very well and is destined to be classic.
Enola Holmes
(2020)
Wonderful storytelling.
28 January 2021
As a middle aged father of three who was subjected to every conceivable millennial oriented movie from Potter to Twilight, this was a wonderful movie. Great storytelling. Staggering performances. Beautifully filmed. Ignore the woke comments of the disgruntled. It's not feminist, ageist or anything 'ist'. Just view it as a story being told (very well) and enjoy it's charm. It has plenty.
Chernobyl
(2019)
Master class mini-series.
8 January 2021
Everything in this production is wonderful. The cast, direction, screenplay, cinematography and the score. All combined to make this an award winning series. However, for me, It was not just an accurate retelling of a very real and terrible event, but the way the storyline delved into the struggles of censorship. The subtlety of repression, despite the good intention, mans inhumanity to man. And yet so recently! It was powerfully portrayed.
Tenet
(2020)
Outstanding.
27 December 2020
Another intensely mindful theatrical performance from the genius that is Nolan. He's the visionary I know but the cinematography and performances in this movie are equally wonderful. Believable almost. Very entertaining . I did watch it twice before passing judgement (as I did with inception, and come to think of it, interstellar). Really worth the effort. The guy's a bloody genius. I mean, who else would play Lockheart as Voldemort?
The Mummy
(2017)
It's just a great action movie.
26 December 2020
Great take on the 'Mummy' storyline. Super cinematography. Great cast. Well done drama and an added splash of humour. It's a really entertaining movie. I enjoyed it for what is purported to be. It's not trying to be citizen Kane. The naysayers who rate this as rubbish are thankfully not in a position of responsibility to have their biased rhetoric make an impact. Enjoy.
Hillbilly Elegy
(2020)
Wonderful storytelling.
26 November 2020
Being English, I didn't need to struggle with the political veil that so many so-called critics struggled to overcome and as such I was able to view the movie objectively as cinematic storytelling. It was an interesting story, tragic and sad and happy throughout. It had me interested in the characters and their outcome. However, it was performance of Glenn Close and Amy Adams that stood out. An absolute masterclass in character portrayal. Believable to the extent Glenn made me cry and Amy made me angry. Yes, people will say the screenplay was great and the cinematography was Bob on but they still had to convey that emotion and that can't be written. And then there was the genius of Ron Howard putting all together, like he does..This is a great movie.
Glitch
(2015–2019)
It is very good after all.
10 September 2020
I've watched this twice. The first time I was entertained but I felt provoked. I wasn't sure if it was brilliant or rubbish. The second viewing I've decided it is in fact very bloody good. Not great, but very good especially considering the budget it worked with. The story is clever and I think develops as logically as a sci-fi come horror drama romance can....The screenplay is believable and the cast make a very good ensemble and carry their characters wonderfully, particularly the young soldier. Don't get hung up on the theological prepositions of the storyline. It's just a clever story, well executed and it really is worth a watch.
Mulan
(2020)
Disappointing remake.
8 September 2020
It was always going to be a big ask making a live-action copy of an animated classic. Imagine doing a live-action Shrek or Toy Story? Doesn't matter who or what you put in it, it wouldn't hold up. So I was hopeful but sceptical. It's a pretty movie to look at, the filmmakers improved on that score. Costumes, sets and scenery etc, but the character development was woeful. Had you not seen the 1998 version you would struggle to understand much of the underlying premise of the story or the character(s). Struggles. The filmmakers instead introduced something akin to super-powers to highlight Mulan's determination rather than the self-belief and belonging as per the original. The screenplay was weak but the actors did a very good job with what they had. Putting it all together, it was an OK movie. Not bad, but not great and nowhere near as good as the original.
Beware of Pity
(1946)
Faithful storytelling to an amazing novel.
19 July 2020
I read this novel after listening to Wes Anderson refer to it as one of the inspirations for his movie The Grand Budapest Hotel. I was blown away by the story, and Zweig. I figured no one, not even today could hope to capture the emotional dissonance of such a great story by Zweig but then I found this 1946 film somehow and I think it did a very good job at portraying the characters and their management of the storyline. The screenplay was simple and alike movies of the day the emphasis was on the expression of the actors. Lilly was fabulous and justly pitiful. It's a very simple story that is tragic and the movie captured it well. I'm so glad I found it.
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